15 Sweet Texts That Mean "I Love You" If You're Not Ready To Say It Just Yet

I've always had trouble with refraining from blurting out exactly what's on my mind. Believe me, this has gotten me in trouble plenty of times. This is especially true when it comes to telling people I care about what I'm feeling. And if I think I'm falling in love, all bets are off. While I can't seem to be able to stop expressing myself, I have learned that it's possible to say things in a way that are a bit more subtle. Having phrases or texts that mean “I love you” at the ready can come in handy in moments like this. That's also true if you're someone who is maybe a little more shy — someone whose heart is bursting but not yet ready to break the L-word seal, because maybe you're not comfortable yet, or it just feels like too soon.

Regardless of the reason you aren't ready to go there, that doesn't mean you can't share your feelings at all. There are plenty of ways to express yourself without saying those three little words. It just takes a little creativity and some carefully selected emojis to pour your heart out without actually saying "I love you" — even if you probably do. If that sounds familiar, but you're still not sure what to say, no worries. I’ve got you covered. Here are some ideas to get your romantic texting creativity flowing.

When in doubt, drop a romantic movie quote on ‘em.

13. “I'm just... happy. I've never felt that before. I’m just exactly where I want to be." — Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

14. “If you’re a bird, I'm a bird.” — The Notebook

15. “I wish I had done everything on Earth with you.” — The Great Gatsby

Just because you aren't ready to say those three little words doesn't mean you have to hold back from letting that special someone know how you're feeling. Half the fun of being in love, after all, is expressing what's in your heart. Besides, you never know if they're dying to do the same, and this is just the encouragement they need to throw caution to the wind and drop an L-bomb of their own.